Council closes in on filling top job

The Basehor City Council narrowed its list of prospects for the vacant city administrator position Wednesday night, after conducting telephone interviews with five finalists.

Basehor Mayor Chris Garcia said the city is down to two final candidates. In-person interviews were to take place Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, the mayor added.

The interviews will be conducted during executive sessions.

In keeping with personnel laws, Garcia said he could not divulge many details regarding the last two candidates. Both of the administrator prospects are from the Kansas City metropolitan area, he said.

"They're both local, one is from Kansas City, Kan., and the other one is from Kansas City, Mo., and they both have extensive experience with what the position calls for," he said. "Now it's just a matter of choosing which one we want."

Council members will be short-handed in conducting the interviews. Due to prior commitments, city council president John Bonee was not able to attend the interview sessions.

Garcia said council members would not make a decision on the final two candidates "until we're back to a full council."

A final decision could come next month, and the new administrator should be on board by September or October, Garcia said.